Double the accolade for Lauren Roach and Cool Echo
Friday 14 August 2015
Lauren Roach (13) from Slough, Berkshire took home the Championship title yesterday in the Pony British Novice Championship Final. The Andrews Bowen Indoor Arena hosted some talented combinations this afternoon. This class follows two preliminary rounds which took place earlier this week.
The class opened with the 128cm division, the course proved challenging and the first round saw only two riders progress to the jump off, Charlotte Hall (14) from Kingswinford, West Midlands riding her mother Rachel’s 10 year-old skewbald gelding Calusa and Molly Heaps from Pontefract, West Yorkshire (13) riding her father Christopher’s 9 year-old palomino mare Stadmorslow Angel.
The second division saw the 138cm’s attempt the course with twenty-three riders hoping to make the jump off. The clear rounds came thick and fast with twelve combinations moving on, securing the next step towards the title.
The jump off combined both divisions seeing a total of fourteen riders contesting the title. There were a number of unlucky rounds with riders pushing to finish with a quick time which ultimately cost them rails.
The first rider to jump a double clear was Lauren riding Cool Echo, a 5 year-old dun gelding owned by Kerry Grimster, and in doing so secured first place. Lauren outjumped her competitors to finish on a time of 31.93.
Lauren is also a member of Garth Hunt Pony Club which qualified her to receive a second accolade. This year Pony Club is acknowledging the highest place Pony Club member by presenting them with a Pony Club sash and rosette. This saw Lauren decorated in sashes as she made her victory lap. Lauren was also given a snaffle bridle kindly donated by The Worshipful Company of Saddlers.
Lauren was thrilled with the win especially as the combination has only been together a year and that Cool Echo is only 5 years-old. Lauren said that her strategy during the jump off was “to turn but not too tight and to go clear”.
RESULTS
1st Lauren Roach and Cool Echo
2nd Adele Rand and Issy Go
3rd Georgie Sims and Fairfax Hot Tottie
4th Katie Benbow and Candy Twist
5th Emily Cunning and Riversdale Sioux
6th Molly Heaps and Stadmorslow Angel
7th Lucy Denson and Just Sonic
8th Sophie Clark and Forrests Fame and Fortune
Photo Credit: 1st Class Images
The British Showjumping National Championships and Stoneleigh Horse Show 2015 is hosted at the National Agricultural and Exhibition Centre (NAEC), Stoneleigh, Warwickshire during the 11th-16th August. For further information, please visit www.bsnationalchampionships.co.uk
.JPG "British Showjumping Para Riders Benefit from National Training Centre Camp as the Sport Continues to Grow")